Interview Excerpt

For the interviews Chris Taylor and I decided to interview a self proclaimed rock fan and self proclaimed rap fan in order to get differing views on the new rap/rock combination music. Chris Taylor interviewed the rock fan and I interviewed a rap fan. Here's an excerpt from the my interview with Marques Coleman. He is a Freshman at Brown and considers himself almost an exclusive fan of rap and hip-hop.

Question: Who are your top five favorite rap artists?

My top five rap artists as of now would probably be, in no particular order, Nas, Ludacris, Chamillionaire, Kanye West, and The game.

Question: Are you a fan or do you listen to any rock music of any type? Anything on your itunes?

Yeah I have a little bit of rock on my itunes, basically Linkin Park is the extent of the rock.

Question: How would you describe your clothing style in relation to the music genre that you mostly closely associate yourself with?

Most recently I have been getting away a little from dressing up as a hip-hop follower since I entered college at Brown, but I still think I dress with a little hip-hop, like for instance I wear Air Force Ones and stick to baggy jeans and I also have a Marc Ecko watch. I guess you could describe my clothing style as definitely more urban than anything. It definitely reflects a lot of what some rap artists may wear.

Question: Listening to the two new songs Prom Queen and Hot Revolver by Lil’ Wayne do you like the direction that Lil Wayne is going in?

I do like rap/rock mash ups, but the Lil’ Wayne ones…I wasn’t really feeling at all because it has been so far from what Lil’ Wayne has been. It kind of seemed to me like it was not Lil’ Wayne I wasn’t listening to.

Question: Do songs like these tarnish your image of Lil Wayne?

It doesn’t tarnish his image in my eyes. But since I am a little iffy of what he’s doing I think that next time I hear a Lil’ Wayne song I wont be as obliged to like it right off the bat.

Question: Say if Lil’ Wayne comes out with this all rock/rap combination cd and then after comes out with an all rap album after, will you be a fan again?

Yeah definitely, if Lil’ Wayne returns to what he was doing before he started this type of music I’ll definitely like it.

Question: What about Kanye West, he is obviously gotten away a little from his straight up rap with songs like Heartless and Love Lockdown, what do you think about this?

At first I really didn’t like it all to be honest, but after hearing a lot of them I started to catch on and ended up liking that album. They’re catchy songs.

Question: Based on Prom Queen and Hot Revolver would ever think about purchasing new Lil’ Wayne album?

Not at all.

Question: We listened to a little bit of DJ Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album, what do you think about it?

I don’t have anything against The Grey Album, I liked a few of the songs but its not that appealing to me as a whole.

Question: So you like the original Black Alum by Jay Z better than The Grey Album?

I definitely like the Black Album better.

Question: Like you said the new Lil’ Wayne songs are sort of messing with your opinions of him as an artist ever so slightly, is it the same for the Jay Z songs?

No I think because it was a remix by somebody else and Jay Z wasn’t trying to do it himself it doesn’t change my opinion

Question: Alright say a rap artist has the intention to go over to rock music, no matter how much you like them, would your opinion change of them?

Yeah definitely that move signifies a change in their musical make up to me and definitely would make me rethink my opinion of them.

Question: Alright an all encompassing question, do you think that rap/rock combination music has a place in popular music and is a legitimate genre?

Yeah of course, although it is not all for me I approve of where the genre is going and think it is coming up pretty fast especially with the efforts of Lil’ Wayne and Girl Talk.